Archives/Shop 3.0/Slodac
Contents
[hide]The Basics
What
BARC stands for either "Basic Application Rechargeable Computer" or "Basically Awesome Rechargeable Computer". I'll decide later.
This is a pet project of ctag's to create a laptop after he was bitten by the venomous "Novena Bug". The laptop will have the following features/requirements/goals:
- Linux. Linux linux linux. Oh, and maybe FreeBSD too. No Android, because it sucks.
- As open (as in Richard Stallman drinking a free beer) as possible without being expensive. Both in the hardware and software realms.
- Capable of writing C, C++, JAVA on some scale. Must be somewhat better than an Chromebook in this regard, I want a compiler not a fuggin notepad.
- Robust. Drop-able. (Did he really just say that? Even when most phones are made to shatter when bumped? He must be insane)
- Small and/or lightweight. Or, you know, not.
- Yeah, idk yet. Leaving room here for future aspirations, like neon underglow.
How
I plan for this to be a very singular project in which I order the parts and sit in my basement and swear until they form a working computer. Let me know if that sounds like fun.
When
This semester. Hopefully before the Novena laptops become available (it's a race).
The Details
Hardware BOM
What about other small boards like the radxa? IDK, the only reason I'm going beagleboard right now is it's open-ness and there's a company making screens for it. Got a suggestion? Pitch it to me, I'd love to find something more powerful than the BB-xM.
Well, there are actually a lot of boards available, like beagle board, hackberry, raspberry pi, cubieboard, etc.
The screen should be available around the end of February. Link to company post
- A USB battery (Dude! or a hydrogen fuel cell!)
- Wireless mouse/keyboard
- Wireless dongle
- Wall power dongle
- USB "parts" for power
Cost Breakdown
There isn't one yet, but I'm looking at this as a $500 project. $150 for the board, $150 for the screen, and a bit for the peices, sounds good.
Boards Available:
- http://beagleboard.org/Products/BeagleBoard-xM - BeagleBoard - $150
- http://www.newark.com/raspberry-pi/raspbrry-modb-512m/model-b-assembled-board-only/dp/43W5302?COM=raspi-group Raspberry Pi - $35
- https://store.iotllc.com/product.php?productid=38&cat=0&featured=Y CubieTruck - $100 (has sata support)
(also has Sata support)
Link to UDOO power consumption chart
So far I really like the features available with the UDOO, but I personally would rather support the open source project and get a BeagleBoard-xM anyway. The UDOO also looks like it would draw more power.
General Hardware Idea Revise Laterz
In a perfect world, I would incorporate power regulation into the 'computer' (computer being the beagleboard mounted behind the screen and not much else). I would also create some fancy USB wires which would let me swap out between different USB power sources without shutting down. So, what this would mean is that I could own several cellphone USB chargers, and only carry as many as I feel necessary for that day. If I run low on power, I'll be able to find a wall outlet and plug in a cellphone USB charger there, or plug into one of the university's computers or whatever. This appeals to me as the most versatile system, as I can charge the laptop battery pack at the same time that the laptop is plugged into the wall, and I can swap out packs at my office if I need to. This will, of course, require some actual planning and thought, and I'll need to get good numbers on the power usage of the components I'm looking at.
Option #1 - Reuse old screen
In my first (and probably cheapest) option, I will reuse an old LVDS screen with the BeagleBoard-xM.
Specs:
- BeagleBoard-xM - So 1Ghz cpu, 512Mb ram, swanky graphics, and open-source-d. - $150
- Screen - 7", prob 800x600 - FREE-AH
- Converter for screen - idk, something like this? - $40
- Generic USB battery pack - 10-15Ah - $50-100
Semi-total cost - $300
Having that old screen from my EEEpc working again - priceless
I'm pretty excited about this, even though it's the lowest-performing option. Anyway, lemme try to get some details:
Option #2 - Build with BB-xM from ground up
Option #3 - Build with UDOO from ground up
External Resources
- http://www.riscos.info/index.php/BeagleBoard-based_Laptop - A sad, lonely wiki page about my project from before my project :(
